Preston team’s Kip Brown wins Super Bowl of hydroplane racing

By Chris Denslow/H1 UnlimitedThe 95 Spirit of Qatar driver Kip Brown (right) hoists the Gold Cup, along with his uncle Nate Brown (left), a former Gold Cup winner and an Our Gang Racing owner. The Our Gang Racing team, based in Preston, came in first place at the Detroit American Power Boat Association’s Gold Cup July 14.

The National Football League has the Super Bowl; Major League Baseball has the World Series; but for hydroplane racing, it’s the Gold Cup that stands as the pinnacle of the sport’s achievements.

The National Football League has the Super Bowl; Major League Baseball has the World Series; but for hydroplane racing, it’s the Gold Cup that stands as the pinnacle of the sport’s achievements.

Local team Our Gang Racing, of Preston, took home that gilded trophy, after driver Kip Brown came in first place in the Detroit American Power Boat Association’s Gold Cup July 14.

Brown, of Ravensdale, drove the 95 Spirit of Qatar, in what Our Gang Racing principal owner John O’Brien said was one of the best races he had ever seen.

“It’s got to be one of the best races in the past 10 years as far as deck-to-deck competition and the dueling,” he said. “I think they must have changed leads seven or eight times.”

By Chris Denslow/H1 UnlimitedThe 95 Spirit of Qatar driver Kip Brown (right) hoists the Gold Cup, along with his uncle Nate Brown (left), a former Gold Cup winner and an Our Gang Racing owner. The Our Gang Racing team, based in Preston, came in first place at the Detroit American Power Boat Association’s Gold Cup July 14.